(9-12-23) At last night’s Celina City Council meeting Celina Law Director George Moore said that due to 1st amendment rights the City of Celina cannot stop Drag Shows in Celina.
The First Amendment provides that Congress make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise. It protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Portions of Moore’s statement (1 hour 47 minute mark on video below) from last night –
The question presented what can the city do to regulate such activity in its parks? The short answer local… moral regulations cannot be implemented without violating the First Amendment freedom to assemble and freedom of speech under these facts by way of rule changes and or permit application changes or the institution of a ban on assemblies on public property. With a peaceful demonstration, pride event with a drag show and oppositional protestors having already occurred.
Should the city attempt to take action to prevent future events?
It will be held to be unconstitutional.
Putting on a drag show is not disorderly conduct or indecent exposure.
Discussion on the topic takes place in the above video at 1 hour 44 minute mark
Mayor Jeff Hazel has not made a comment or statement regarding the situation.
Last weekend a transgender activist protest was held at the Mercer County Courthouse protesting HB 245.
- Northwest Ohio Trans Advocacy Group Responds To State Rep. Angie King’s Posting
- State Rep. Angie King Misrepresents and Uses her Platform to Attack Protesters of her Drag Ban
- State Rep. Angie King’s Thoughts On HB 245 Mercer County Protest
- Ohio Drag Ban Protest To Be Held In Celina…’They bring their bigoted bills to us … we bring the peaceful protest to their hometown’
- Rep. Angie King (R-Celina) Co-Sponsors House Bill To Ban Drag Show
Moore did not comment on how HB 245 would be implemented by the city if passed.
Mercer County Outlook 
This is Gary Kuess, I once tried to start a rooming house for people, I had all rules and laws satisfied for the city and state codes, but guess what happened. They still shut me down because they said they were allowed to stop any project that the neighboring people thought was going to de-value their property. This is a different situation, but if the neighboring land owners got together and complained about it bringing the value of their properties down, why can’t the city stop it? Or did I get wrongfully stopped?
Thanks, Gary
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When does the oppressed, become the oppressor? Apparently the city government officials have lost their compass and result to blaming the constitution for their direction.
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